Title: Environmental damage, abatement and sustainable economic growth

Authors: Klaus Vondra, Martin Zagler

Addresses: Vienna University of Economics & B.A., Augasse 2–6, A–1090 Vienna, Austria. ' Vienna University of Economics & B.A., Augasse 2–6, A–1090 Vienna, Austria

Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of abatement policies on the environment and economic growth. Environmental damage is a by-product of industrial production. As pollution reduces the welfare of every individual, it constitutes a negative impact of production. We focus on abatement policies to regenerate the environment. In social optimum, we obtain a simple rule for abatement expenditures. However, this rule cannot be implemented easily in a competitive market equilibrium, where the amount of abatement activities has to be financed by distortionary taxation. Finally, we present empirical evidence based on factor shares, which indicates that the model is empirically reasonable.

Keywords: environmental damage; abatement policies; sustainable economic growth; optimal taxation; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2004.006055

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2004 Vol.4 No.4, pp.287 - 297

Published online: 27 Jan 2005 *

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